Cross Out Subtraction Worksheet – Free Printable PDF
This free cross out subtraction worksheet gives children something to do with their pencil before they write an answer. Six dot cards are printed on the page, each with the dots being taken away marked with a red cross, and the child counts what is left to complete the sum below. The problems are 5−2, 6−4, 4−1, 6−3, 5−3 and 6−2, all within 6. Print it instantly — no login, no payment, no sign-up required.
- 📚 GRADE LEVEL → Nursery – LKG – 1st – 2nd
- 👶 AGE GROUP → 3–7 Years
- 📐 PAGE SIZE → A4 Size
- 🎯 DIFFICULTY → Beginner
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More about this worksheet
About This Free Cross Out Subtraction Worksheet for Kids
Everything on this free cross out subtraction worksheet sits on one page, with one kind of problem repeated. A name and date line runs across the top, a coloured title band names the activity, and one line of instructions sits beneath it. At Kidzolearn, every worksheet is 100% free to download and print — no login, no subscription, no payment required.
Six domino-style boxes in two columns. The dots to be taken away are already marked with a red cross, and the sum sits beneath each box with a dashed answer square. The problems are 5 − 2, 6 − 4, 4 − 1, 6 − 3, 5 − 3 and 6 − 2. Starting numbers run from four to six.
Dots are the cleanest thing a child can count — no shape to recognise, no picture to be distracted by, just quantity. That makes this a good sheet for checking whether a child is genuinely counting or pattern-matching on familiar objects. See the note near the front of this pack about the instruction line on this sheet before you publish it. For more early maths in the same style, see our free printable coloring pages, and the full library sits on our free printable worksheets for kids.
What your child will learn from this worksheet
Short as the sheet is, it works on more than adding alone:
- Cross out the exact number of dots the sum asks them to take away
- Count only the dots left behind to find the difference
- Begin recognising dot patterns instantly instead of counting one by one
- Solve six sums within 6 — 5−2, 6−4, 4−1, 6−3, 5−3 and 6−2
- Build careful pencil control and one-to-one counting accuracy
These are the early number objectives set in LKG, UKG, Reception, Year 1 and Grade 1. Subtraction rests on secure counting, so if any of these feel slow, our reading comprehension worksheets are the place to rebuild that foundation before pushing on.
Who is this worksheet best for?
This free cross out subtraction worksheet is perfect for:
- Kindergarten and Grade 1 children aged 5 to 7 years meeting subtraction for the first time
- Preschool and Kindergarten classroom maths centres and small-group teaching
- UK Reception and Year 1 KS1 children working on taking away within 10
- Homeschooling parents introducing subtraction gently before written sums
Browse the complete collection of Free Subtraction Worksheets for Kids on Kidzolearn for more free subtraction printables.
How to download and print this free worksheet
Click the “Download Free Worksheet” button on this page — the PDF downloads instantly with no sign-up or email required. Print on standard A4 paper for the best experience. Once your child no longer needs the pictures, move on to the Addition Worksheet for written practice in the same range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kidzolearn worksheets really free?
Yes! Every worksheet on Kidzolearn is 100% free — no subscription, no login and no payment required at any time. Simply click the download button, save the PDF and print it instantly at home or in the classroom.
At what age should children start using this cross out subtraction worksheet?
From about five years old, though readiness matters more than the birthday. Two things need to be in place first: counting a group of up to ten accurately, and some experience of addition. Subtraction is the harder of the two operations because nothing is left behind to count, so it is worth waiting until adding feels comfortable.
Why does crossing out help a child understand subtraction?
Because it makes the taking away visible and permanent. A child who crosses out two dots can still see that those two were there and are now gone, so the whole, the part removed and the part left are all on the page at the same time. That is far easier to grasp than a bare number sentence, and it is the reason a cross out subtraction worksheet works so well as a first introduction.
Is crossing out an approved way to teach subtraction?
It is. Early years curricula across India, the UK, the US and Australia all include subtraction within ten, and all of them ask for concrete and pictorial work before written sums. The order is consistent everywhere: count reliably, then add, then take away. Our number worksheets for kindergarten cover the counting work that sits underneath all of this.
Can I use these worksheet at home?
Absolutely! This worksheet is completely free to download and print at home. All you need is a printer and a pencil — no cost, no sign-up and no login required. You can print it as many times as your child needs.